A- - Century Y The 1994 Buick Century Owner's Manual Litho in USA Part No. 25609658 B First Edition 'Copyright General Motors Corporation 1993 All Rights Reserved 1 U GENERAL MOTORS, GM and the GM Emblem, Buick, and the Buick Emblem areregistered trademarks of General Motors Corporation. This manual includes the latest information at the time it was printed. We reserve the right to make changes in the product after that time without further notice. For vehicles first sold in Canada, substitute the name "General Motors of Canada Limited" for Buick Motor Division whenever it appears in this manual. Please keep this manual in your Buick, so it will be there if you ever need it when you're on the road. If you sell the vehicle, please leave this manual in it so the new owner can use it. WE SUPPORT VOLUNTARY TECHNICIAN CERTIFICATION THROUGH Narlonal Instatute for We support voluntary technician certification. AUTOMOTIVE SERVICE EXCELLENCE For Canadian Owners Who Prefer a French Language Manual: Aux proprietaires canadiens: Vous pouvez vous procurer un exemplaire de ceguide en francais chez votre concessionaire ou au DGN Marketing Services Ltd., 1500 Bonhill Rd., Mississauga, Ontario L5T lC7. 2 P Buick Motor Division provides one of the most dramatic and important chapters in the history of the American automobile 3 "valve-in-head" engine, a light, powerful and reliable engine which would eventually influence the entire automotive industry. William C. Durant was instrumental in promoting Buicks across the country using his Durant-Dort Carriage Co. outlets and salespeople as the nucleus of a giant distribution system. He knew the Buick as a "self-seller". If automobiles could be this good, he thought, maybe it was time to switch from the horse and buggy business to automobiles. At the 1905, New York Auto Show, Durant took orders for 1,000 Buicks before the company had built 40. On Buick's success, Durant created a holding company, September 16, 1908. He called it General Motors. Walter Marr and Thomas Buick Buick's chief engineer, Walter L. Marr (left), and Thomas D. Buick, son of founder David Dunbar Buick, drove the first Flint Buick in a successful Flint-Detroit round trip in July 1904. David Buick was building gasoline engines by 1899, and Marr, his engineer, apparently built the first auto to be called a Buick in 1900. However, Buick traditionally dates its beginnings to 1903. That was the year the company was reorganized, refinanced and moved from Detroit to Flint. Buick has always been a product innovator. Buick engineers developed the William C. (Billy)Durant 4 Durant also created a racing team that won 500 racing trophies in 1909 and 1910, including successes at Indianapolis two years before the Indy 500 began. The success of Buick engines was visible not only on the race track, but in endurance tests across the country and around the world. Buick was the only car to complete a 1,000-mile Chicago-to-New York race in 1906. And a Buick was the first car to travel across South America, driven from Buenos Aires, Argentina, over the Andes to Santiago, Chile in 19 14. Buick drew plenty of attention becauseit could climb hills and run through mud like no other car. Buick's endurance and reliability were world famous. During World War I, Buick built Liberty aircraft engines as well as Red Cross ambulances so successful that one Buick ambulance was awarded the Croix de Guerre by the French government. As a builder of premier automobiles, Buick was hard hit by the Great Depression. However, new General Manager, Harlow H. Curtice created popular new models including the Special and the Roadmaster. Buick sales soon flourished. 1911 Model 21 Touring Car on Buick's Test Hill First Buick Factory 5 In World War 11, Buick built aircraft engines, tanks and other military hardware. This post-war period brought great styling and engineering changes which resulted in increased sales. The torque converter automatic transmission, Dynaflow, was introduced in the 1948 Roadmaster. Buick's famous "portholes" came along in 1949. A high-compression V-8 engine was introduced in 1953. And Buick's famous vertical pillar "toothy" grille, (introduced in 1942),became more massive in the post-war era. I949 Roadmaster I953 Skylark Motor Trend magazine named the 1962 Buick Special, "Car of the Year". The first production V-6 engine was used in the Special. 6 I I962 Buick Special Built inside the walls of the old buildings in Buick's former Flint complex, which formed the cornerstone of General Motors, Buick City, is a state-of-the-art assembly facility with more than 200 robots and other high-tech equipment. It was completed in the fall of 1985. Buicks are, and will continue to be, premium American motorcars with smooth power, high performance, rich detail and comfortable accommodation. Ed Mertz, Gener-ul Manager, Buic-k Motor- Division Our mission is simple: "Buick will provide Premium American Motorcars backed with services that exceed our customers' expectations, throughout the purchase, ownership, service and repurchase experience." Buicks are SUBSTANTIAL. Buicks are DISTINCTIVE. Buicks are POWERFUL. Buicks are MATURE. 7 8 @ Table of Contents How to Use this Manual ................................................................ 10 This part tells you how to use your manual and includes safety and vehicle damage warnings and symbols. Seatsand Restraint Systems ............................................................. 13 This part tells you how to use your seats and safety belts properly. It also explains the "SRS" system. FeaturesandControls .................................................................. 65 This part explains how to start and operate your Buick. Comfort Controls and Audio Systems ..................................................... 121 This part tells you how to adjust the ventilation and comfort controls and how to operate your sound system. YourDrivingandtheRoad Here you'll find helpful information and tips about the road and how to drive under different conditions. ProblemsontheRoad This part tells you what to do if you have a problem while driving, such a flat tire or engine as overheating, etc. ServiceandAppearanceCare Here the manual tells you how to keep your Buick running properly and looking good. Maintenanceschedule This part tells you when to perform vehicle maintenance and what fluids and lubricants to use. Customer Assistance Information This part tells you how to contact Buick for assistance and how get service publications.It also to gives you information on "Reporting Safety Defects" on page 283. Index Here's an alphabetical listingof almost every subject in this manual. You can use it to quickly find something you want to read. .............................................................. .................................................................. 139 171 207 ............................................................ .................................................................. ........................................................ 261 281 291 ................................................................................ 7 How to Use This Manual Many people read their owner's manual from beginning to end when they first receive their new vehicle. This will help you learn about the features and controls for your vehicle. In this manual, you'll find that pictures and words work together to explain things quickly. You will also find a circle with a slash through it in this book. f l safetv svmbol means This 4.' "Don't," "Don't do this," or "Don't let this happen." Safety Warningsand Symbols You will find a number of safety cautions in this book. We use a box with gray background and the word CAUTION to tell you about things that could hurt you if you were to ignore the warning. In the gray caution area, we tell you what the hazard is. Then we tell you what to do to help avoid or reduce the hazard. Please read these cautions. If you don't, you or others could be hurt. 10 Vehicle Damage Warnings Also, in this book you will find these notices: In the notice area, wetell you about somethingthat can damage your vehicle. Many times, this damagewould not be covered by your warranty, and it could be costly. But the notice will tell you what to do to help avoid the damage. When you read other manuals, you might see CAUTION and NOTICE warnings in different colors or in different words. You'll also seewarning labels on your vehicle. They use yellow for cautions, blue for noticesand the words CAUTION orNOTICE. NOTICE: 11 Vehicle Symbols These are someof the symbols you may find on your vehicle. Fur example, these symbols are used on an original battery: CAUTION POSSIBLE INJURY PROTECT EYES BY SHIELDING CAUSTIC These symbols are used on warning and indicator lights: ENGINE COOLANT TEMP BAllERY CHARGING SYSTEM Here are some other symbols you may see: FUSE A These symbols are important for you and your passengers whenever your vehicle is driven: These symbols have to do with your lights: These symbols are on some of your controls: WIPER v - F& . I-1 Q4 FASTEN SEAT BELTS POWER WINDOW TURN SIGNALS e RADIO VOLUME J k 0 WINDSHIELD a DEFROSTER RADIATOR COOLANT FUEL CONDITIONING A'R TRUNK RELEASE LIGHTER BURNS AVOID SPARKS OR FLAMES SPARK OR FLAME COULD EXPLODE BATTERY WINDOW DEFOGGER 6 m HIGH OR BEAM = ,\I/, AIRBAG FOG LAMPS P \ =o VENTILATING FAN ENGINE OIL PRESSURE e , $0 TEMP OIL ANTILOCK BRAKE 4% (@) n Part 1 Seats and Restraint Systems Here you'll find information about the seats in your Buick. and how to use your safety belts properly. You can also learn about some things you should not do with safety belts . Part 1 includes: Seatsandseatcontrols . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . HeadRestraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Folding Rear Seats (Wagon) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SafetyBelts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . How to Wear Safety Belts Properly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Automatic Lap-Shoulder Belt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Supplemental Restraint System (Air Bag) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Smaller Children and Babies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Child Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . LargerChildren . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SafetyBeltExtender . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Checking Your Restraint System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Replacing Safety Belts After a Crash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 17 18 22 29 30 37 42 48 49 50 61 63 63 64 13 Seats and Seat Controls This section tells you about the seats-how to adjust them, and also about folding seats, reclining front seatbacks, and head restraints. Manual Seat Move the lever under the front seat to the left to unlock it. Slide the seat to where you want it then release the lever to lock. Try to move the seat with your body, to make sure the seat is locked into place. 14 Power Seat (Option) Reclining Front Seatback The switch is located on the front of the seat.To recline the seatback hold the switch up. Hold the switch down to raise the seatback. The power seat controls are located on the front of the seat. To adjust thepower seat: Front Control (F): Raise the front the seatby holding of the switchup. Hold the switch down to lower front of the the seat. Center Control (C): Move the seat forward or back by holding the control to the right or left. Raise or lower the seat by holding the control up or down. Rear Control (R): Raise therear of the seatby holding the switch up. Hold the switc ...